Our community can now recycle problem wastes before they contaminate the environment thanks to a new Community Recycling Centre which has opened at the Hawkesbury City Waste Management Facility at 1 The Driftway South Windsor.

The Hawkesbury Community Recycling Centre is the fourth centre to open in Western Sydney and the tenth in metropolitan Sydney. It is also part of a network of 100 facilities being established across NSW.

Hawkesbury City Council established the Community Recycling Centre after receiving a $216,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

This is a significant addition to the recycling options already available for mattresses, metals, timber, electronic equipment and more. In 2017/18, Council sent over 1,800 tonnes of these materials to recycling.

The recycling facility will complement the Hawkesbury’s existing recycling services, while also keeping problem wastes out of landfill, helping to reduce illegal dumping and increasing recycling.

The NSW Government is aiming to improve the collection and recycling of household problem waste by dedicating $127 million to establish new systems, such as the community recycling centre network under the Waste Less Recycle More initiative.

The Community Recycling Centre accepts the following problem wastes free of charge: • water-based and oil-based paints• used motor oils and other oils• lead-acid and hand-held batteries • gas cylinders and fire extinguishers • conventional tube and compact fluorescent lamps • smoke detectors• TV and computer equipment and mobile phones.

The Community Recycling Centre is open 7 days from 8am to 4pm, except public holidays. For more information visit: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/index.htm and www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

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New Hawkesbury Community Recycling Centre

Bensons Lane Cricket/AFL Sports Complex to be upgradedCouncil has welcomed $100,000 in Federal Government funding which will assist Hawkesbury Sports Council in building an extension around the decks of the Bensons Lane Cricket/AFL Sports Complex in Richmond lowlands.

Both Council and Hawkesbury Sports Council will contribute funding towards the project. Council delegates the care, control, management and development of sporting facilities in the Hawkesbury to the Hawkesbury Sports Council. A key goal of

the Hawkesbury Community Strategic Plan is to provide recreational services and facilities to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

The extension of the decks will provide much-needed shade and shelter for the players, spectators and scorers. It is also likely to encourage more sports to use this excellent sporting venue. This new upgrade will benefit many sporting groups including the Hawkesbury AFL Club, Norwest Jets, Hawkesbury Cricket Club, Hawkesbury District Cricket Association, NSW Cricket and local schools. Hawkesbury City Council will continue upgrading local parks and sporting facilities for our community throughout 2019.

Councillor Danielle Wheeler was the first to use the new centre

$100,000 upgrade for Bensons Lane Cricket/AFL Sports Complex in Richmond lowlands

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Blueprint released for Western Parkland CityLess than a year after signing the City Deal, one of the most visionary projects in Australia’s history is on target to transform Western Sydney.

A blueprint that will drive the creation of Western Sydney Parkland as Australia’s next 21st Century city has been released. The Western Sydney City Deal Implementation Plan details the delivery of all 38 City Deal commitments and implementation milestones.

The framework aims to maximise the benefits from more than $20 billion of infrastructure investment by the State and Commonwealth Governments. The City Deal capitalises on the once-in-a-generation opportunity created by the Coalition Government’s delivery of the $5.3 billion Western Sydney Airport.

Council is looking forward to the opportunities the City Deal will create for the Hawkesbury community and local businesses.

The Plan will provide education opportunities, more streamlined planning processes and good governance – which was critical to the success of the world-class Parkland City. A $150 million Liveability Program will also allow councils to create new community facilities and enhance urban

amenity, creating high quality places for residents to live, work and play.

The Implementation Plan is available at https://citydeals.infrastructure.gov.au/western-sydney/implementation-and-governance/western-sydney-city-deal-implementation-plan and the Western Sydney City Deal home page is at https://citydeals.infrastructure.gov.au/western-sydney

Building Hawkesbury’s Future Council is carrying out an accelerated program of repair and renewal. During 2018 Council has completed major works including resealing and rehabilitating roads, upgrading local parks and sporting facilities. Works completed under Council’s Pedestrian Connection Program resulted in the construction of approximately 4,000 m2 of concrete foot paving/cycleway at many locations including in the townships of Richmond, Windsor and South Windsor. A cycleway extension has also been completed, northerly from the Berger Rd Reserve, South Windsor, including a bridge over the wetland area adjacent to Fairey Road, South Windsor. There is also a new Pedestrian Refuge Island in Berger Road, South Windsor.

Road rehabilitation works over sections of failed road pavement have been completed under Council’s Road Upgrade Program at the following locations:

• Ham Street, South Windsor • Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis • The Driftway, South Windsor - with Penrith City Council

Several gravel roads have been sealed at the following locations:

• Fairey Road, South Windsor - from existing seal to Penruddock Street• Upper Macdonald Road, St Albans - from the bridge in the town centre to the first cattle grid• Espie Street, St Albans - full length• Wollombi Road, St Albans - from Espie Street in a northerly direction for approximately 160 metres.

Drainage works have also been carried out in Wheelbarrow Ridge Rd, Colo Heights and Bradley Reserve, South Windsor.

The 2019/2020 Operational Plan includes major projects as part of Council’s Building Hawkesbury’s Future Program. Council is also continuing a program to seal a number of gravel roads as well as improving community facilities. Find out about completed and upcoming works here: https://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/home/home-slideshow/building-hawkesburys-future/building-hawkesburys-future

The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert at Governor Phillip Park

The City Deal will offer new opportunities for local businesses and the wider community

• Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis• Terrace Road, Freemans Reach• Mountain Lagoon Road, Bilpin• McGrath Road, McGraths Hill.

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Council recently hosted the 21st annual Bushcare and Landcare Awards at McMahon Park, Kurrajong. The Awards were held in partnership with Hawkesbury River County Council, Hawkesbury Bushcare and the Hawkesbury Landcare Network.

Environmental Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Patricia O’Toole for her strong commitment to the restoration of natural areas in the Kurrajong area through the techniques of bushland regeneration. The Award acknowledges Mrs O’Toole’s persistence, dedication and passion in restoring the natural areas of Kurrajong for over 14 years.

Charles Kemp Reserve Bushcare was awarded the Environmental Group of the Year for their efforts in promoting the preservation and improvement of the Charles Kemp Reserve which included the removal of Mother of Millions weed and the innovation of geocaching through bushland regeneration. Volunteer numbers have ranged from nine to 26 people every month with a major focus on education in bushland regeneration. The geocaching concept at Charles Kemp Reserve was the brainchild of Gillean Miller three years ago and it has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Other 2018 winners:

• The Hawkesbury Community Nursery Green Thumb Award – Laurie Camilleri• 10 Years Long Service to Bushcare – Merv Sharkie• 10 Years Long Service to Bushcare & Landcare – Janet Fox• The Super Scriber Scripting Award – Wendy Lawson and Richie Benson • Rookie of the Year – Windsor Wharfies Bushcare • Certificate of Appreciation for Koala Fest @ Kurrajong, Saturday, 15 September 2018 – Hawkesbury Koala Working Group.

Everyone is welcome to visit their local Bushcare or Landcare group as well as the Hawkesbury Community Nursery and lend a hand. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Martin Gauci, Council’s Community Bushcare Officer on 4560 4525 mgauci@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or Xuela Sledge, Local Landcare Coordinator for the Hawkesbury Landcare Network: landcare@hrcc.nsw.gov.au or 0410 616 139.

The Community Nursery Group meets every Wednesday at 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave (next to the Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter) from 9am to 1pm, excluding the Christmas period. To express your interest to join this group, email jutta.hamilton@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or call 4560 4651.

Technology players big and small have been invited to co-develop the digital Western Parkland City and build a world leading Smart City for Western Sydney. The Western Parkland City will be one of Australia’s most connected cities with innovative public transport, aviation and digital infrastructure which will bring residents closer to jobs, services, education and the world.

The Digital Western Parkland City Industry Briefing on 8 February 2019 at Penrith Panthers is the first step for the Australian, NSW and eight local governments to engage the world’s technology sector to co-develop the best available infrastructure and public services for the people of Western Sydney.

The industry briefing event will discuss digital connectivity and technology and the opportunities to help transform the Western Parkland City into a Smart City.

Following the briefing, there will be a call for a short investment prospectus from businesses, consortia and others seeking to respond to the opportunity by Friday, 29 March 2019. Details at https://launch.innovation.nsw.gov.au/digitalwesternparklandcity

Digital Western Parkland CityBushcare Landcare Awards

Museum accolades

Hawkesbury Regional Museum in Windsor has won a Highly Commended Award for Best Exhibition in the 2018 IMAGinE awards for ‘Food Bowl Farming: Migrants and Food Production in the Hawkesbury District 1794-1994’. The Awards are presented annually by Museums & Galleries NSW, the peak body representing 500 museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW.

Developed by guest curator Kate Gahan, the exhibition explores the lives of migrant farmers, patterns of land use and cultivation, buildings, tools and technology and the influence of cultural tradition and ethnicity on local farming. The exhibition runs throughout 2019. Exhibition partners include NSW Migration Heritage Centre, Western Sydney University and the Kurrajong- Comleroy Historical Society.

The Museum has just received a $4,416 grant from the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs, under the Armistice Centenary Grant funding program to conserve a WWI uniform. The Museum has also won a second Community Heritage Grant for a ‘Preservation Needs Assessment’ of its historic collection. Since opening in 2008, the Museum has won several awards, including tourism awards, an award for its volunteers, and an award for cultural infrastructure. The Museum has also been successful in securing ongoing financial support from Create NSW. The Museum is located at 8 Baker Street, Windsor. Details www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/museum

Museum Director Kath Von Witt, Councillor Danielle Wheeler and Mayor Barry Calvert at the Museum

Saturday, 16 February, 11am-3pmRICHMOND SWIMMING CENTRE POOL PARTY Free entry, free sausage sizzle, giant water slide, free giveaways for kids. Details www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and Hawkesbury Events Facebook. www.facebook.com/hawkesburyevents

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Contact us:Hawkesbury City Council366 George Street (PO Box 146)Windsor NSW 2756Phone: (02) 4560 4444Facsimile: (02) 4587 7740Email: council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.auWebsite: www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Printed January 2019 on Impact Recycled Paper. 100% FSC certified recycled paper. Made from Post Consumer Waste. Certified Carbon Neutral and produced by an ISO 14001 accredited mill. Please recycle this report.

If you would like to make a comment on this report please contact (02) 4560 4430.

Wednesday, 6 February, 7pmLOWER PORTLAND FERRY COMMUNITY MEETINGCommunity meeting regarding the Lower Portland Ferry at Hawkesbury South Juniors, 251 Greens Rd, Lower Portland. Details www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and Hawkesbury Events Facebook.

Tuesday, 12 February, 10:30am-middayLIBRARY LOVERS DAY TEÁ COOPER – AUTHOR TALK Teá Cooper discusses her latest release The Woman in the Green Dress. Readers of The Naturalist’s Daughter and The Birdman’s Wife will love this book set in the Hawkesbury during 1853 and 1919.FREE – bookings essential. Tea and coffee provided. Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street Windsor. Go to http://hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com to book.

Wednesday, 13 February, 10am-11:30amGET TO KNOW ANCESTRY Hawkesbury Family History Group meetingAncestry’s Content Manager, Jason Reeve will discuss all the latest news from Ancestry.com including their DNA testing program. FREE – no need to book. All welcome.

26 January - 31 March 2019WARAKURNA A National Museum of Australia touring exhibition of contemporary paintings and sculptures that document a new art movement emerging from the Western Desert community of Warakurna. These paintings combine familiar Western Desert symbols and dots with a new, more figurative style, to recreate scenes of everyday life and to tell historical and contemporary stories. Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Deerubbin Centre (1st Floor), 300 George Street, Windsor.

Wednesday, 20 February, 10am-11:30amNSW SENIORS FESTIVAL WRITING A MEMOIR Julie Ankers, author of Fit, Fabulous and Fifty together with editor Kerry Chater, will talk about the importance of leaving a legacy and writing your memoirs. Join them for morning tea afterwards.FREE – bookings essential as morning tea provided. Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street Windsor. Go to http://hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com to book.

Thursday, 21 February 10am-middaySUSTAINABLE EATING, SHOPPING & MENU PLANNING Learn how to make sustainable food choices, reduce food miles and wastage. Find out how to identify the difference between organic, natural, ethical and fair trade. FREE – Bookings essential via http://hawkesburywaronwaste.eventbrite.com or 4560 4566. Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street Windsor. This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

HAWKESBURY SPORTS AWARDS NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN If you know someone that is worthy of a receiving a Hawkesbury Sports Award, please visit Council’s website to nominate them at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Front page top image, © Janelle Keys 2018